Tag: Sadiq Khan

Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on the TFL Funding Agreement

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 30 August 2022.

This funding agreement comes after more than a month of tough negotiations because I’ve been determined to stand up for London and to fight for our transport network, which so many Londoners and businesses rely upon.

The good news is that we have managed to win a number of key concessions from the Government, which mean we will be able to avoid TfL having to make the devastating cuts to vital transport services previously proposed – moving us away from the managed decline of London’s transport network.

However, I want to be frank with Londoners – this deal is far from ideal. The Government is still leaving TfL with a significant funding gap, meaning we will likely have to increase fares in the future and still proceed with some cuts to bus services. There are also onerous strings attached, such as the Government’s condition requiring TfL to come up with options for reform of TfL’s pension scheme at pace, which could well lead to more industrial action and more disruption for commuters.

These are things we have had no choice but to accept in order to get the deal over the line to avoid TfL becoming bankrupt, to save the jobs of thousands of transport workers and to keep trains, tubes and buses running across our city.

The sole cause of TfL’s financial crisis was the impact of the pandemic so it’s simply wrong to punish Londoners and transport workers in this way. Levelling up the country should not be about levelling down London.

We will now be working flat out to mitigate the impact of the conditions required by the Government so that we can maintain a world-class transport network in our city, which is so crucial as we strive to continue building a greener, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.

August 31, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on the Energy Price Cap

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 26 August 2022.

Ofgem’s announcement that the energy price cap will rise to £3549 in October confirms what many of us have long feared. Despite repeated warnings, the Government has consistently failed to intervene and Ministers must act now to prevent this cost of living crisis becoming a national disaster.

Without Government support, some Londoners will not only be forced to choose between heating or eating but could struggle to do either. The Government must immediately freeze bills and introduce a Lifeline Tariff to ensure the most vulnerable people in our city receive a basic amount of free energy every day.

Through transformative initiatives like my Warmer Homes scheme I’m committed to doing all I can to support Londoners through this deepening crisis but, with energy prices soaring and more families struggling to make ends meet, this Government needs to step up and take urgent action now.

August 30, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments at Start of Notting Hill Carnival

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 26 August 2022.

I’m delighted that Notting Hill Carnival will be returning to the streets of west London this weekend. This community-led celebration of Caribbean history and culture has become one of the world’s biggest street festivals and part of the very fabric of this city. I urge everyone planning to attend Carnival to arrive early to make the most of this wonderful celebration of our capital’s diversity.

August 30, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on GCSE Results

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 25 August 2022.

Congratulations to everyone across the capital who is receiving their GCSE results today. The last two years have been incredibly challenging for our schools, but students and teachers have worked very hard in the face of such adversity. I hope that you’ve got the grades you were expecting today, but if things haven’t gone to plan, please remember there is no single route to success and you should seek advice on the many different options available.

August 25, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on the Transatlantic Slave Trade

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 23 August 2022.

It is hugely important to remember and honour the millions who suffered as a result of the Transatlantic slave trade and the impact this has had on generations of Black communities here in London and worldwide. By bringing Londoners together for this event we provide an opportunity to reflect on the injustices of the slave trade, while learning about and celebrating all those who resisted and helped bring about change. We will also pay tribute to grassroots Black activist movements in present day and the work they are doing to improve our society.

August 25, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Statement on London Underground Strikes

The statement made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 19 August 2022.

I am extremely frustrated by the strike action today on London Underground. This will have a serious impact on London’s businesses and commuters, at a time when we’re working to get more passengers back on to the network and boost the capital’s economic recovery.

TfL have done everything they can to avoid this disruption going ahead and I’ve urged the unions to call off this action and to work with TfL to lobby the Government for a long-term funding deal that is fair to Londoners and our heroic transport workers.

I encourage Londoners to listen to TfL’s latest travel advice and avoid travelling on the Underground, and only travel if essential on the rest of the network.

August 20, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Londoners and Exam Results

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 18 August 2022.

I would like to congratulate all Londoners receiving their A-Level, T-Level and BTEC results today. Students have faced unprecedented challenges on their educational journeys over the past two years, and I admire and applaud the dedication, resilience and hard work that they and their teachers have demonstrated. If you haven’t received the results you hoped for, please be reassured that there are many potential paths ahead, so I urge you to speak with your teachers, parents, carers or guardians about your options.

August 20, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Keeping Young Londoners Away from Gangs

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 17 August 2022.

I know that one-to-one support can make a huge difference in a young person’s life and mean the difference between them fulfilling their potential or being lured into the trap of violence and criminality.

I’m proud that our London Gang Exit programme is making a real difference and has already helped hundreds of young people leave or significantly reduce their involvement in criminal gangs. That’s why I am investing even more in this programme to help tackle violence and support young Londoners at risk of exploitation as they turn their lives around.

But gang violence still accounts for too much of the most serious violence in London and I am concerned about a potential increase in violence this summer as the cost of living crisis deepens and threatens to reverse the progress we have made in tackling violent crime. Violence, like poverty, is not inevitable and the Government must now do much more to show it shares my commitment to building a fairer, safer London for all.

August 20, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Londoners Facing Fuel Poverty

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 17 August 2022.

Many Londoners don’t know how they are going to keep warm this winter. Some don’t know how they will feed their children. This is a crisis and the Government needs to get serious. That is why I am calling on Ministers to convene Cobra, act on calls to stop energy bills from rising and for the introduction of an emergency Lifeline Tariff to ensure the most vulnerable Londoners are able to access basic energy use this winter. I am determined to deliver net zero in a way that helps Londoners manage these costs increases but I can’t do it alone.

“We’re now suffering the consequences of a decade of Government inaction on energy efficiency. The Government must match my pace and ambition and support plans like my own that would save lives this winter.

August 20, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Right to Buy-Back in London

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 9 August 2022.

For more than 40 years, London’s precious council homes have been disappearing into the private sector, often never to be replaced. As Mayor I have maintained a relentless focus on stemming the tide and replenishing London’s social housing stock.

I am proud that, thanks to my interventions, we have brought council homebuilding back up to levels not seen since the 1970s and I’m hugely encouraged by the enthusiasm I see from boroughs across London for building new council homes and using my Right to Buy-back scheme to return homes to public ownership.

These homes were built for the public good and it has been painful to watch them disappear into private portfolios. Returning these homes to public ownership is a key part of my plan to build a better London for everyone – a city that is greener, fairer and more prosperous for all.

August 9, 2022